Jana Laura Egelhofer Vol 11, No 1 (2023): Science Communication in the Digital Age: New Actors, Environments, and Practices
Abstract: In today’s “post-truth” world, concerns over political attacks on the legitimacy of expert knowledge and scientific facts are growing. Especially populist politicians frequently use their social media platforms to target science and journalism, arguing these are part of an “evil elite,” deliberately misleading the public by spreading disinformation. While this type of discourse is highly concerning, thus far, we lack empirical evidence on how these accusations affect the public perceptions of scientists and journalists. To fill this gap, this study tests how politicians’ attacks affect citizens’ trust in journalists and scientists and the information provided by them. Furthermore, it investigates whether this discourse renders hostility towards journalists and scientists acceptable and whether there are effects on the image of politicians using such anti-science rhetoric. Findings suggest that the effects of politicians’ attacks on citizens’ perceptions of scientists and journalists are limited. Only individuals with strong anti-elitist attitudes are susceptible to disinformation accusations and indicate less belief in discredited scientific information. Interestingly, these individuals also perceive politicians using such attacks as more trustworthy and authentic.
Claudia Paganini, Marlis Prinzing, Julia Serong. Nomos, 2023, 231 Seiten, broschiert ISBN 978-3-8487-8846-0
Abstract: Communicating knowledge places ethical demands on communication between science and society. Communicating knowledge has always been relevant but suffered a loss of trust in the context of the coronavirus pandemic—among other things, due to research results published under extreme pressure or contradictory information that unsettled the population. This volume uses resources from media ethics to provide more guidance in this respect. Its aim is to classify the facets of communicating knowledge for both the actors involved and the public and to highlight its connecting points for practice as well as its undesirable developments and the opportunities it offers. The book contains contributions that are programmatic, theoretical and practice-related, as well as texts on normative requirements for science journalism and science communication. Its interdisciplinary contributions are compatible with the discourses in various disciplines.
Kort, Remco, Jeremy Pivor, Josep M. Antó, Annemarie Bergsma, Peter J. Blankestijn, Olette Bollen, Egid van Bree, Joyce L. Browne, Judith de Bruin, Jasper Buikx, and et al. (u.a. Goodwin, Bernhard). 2023. Challenges 14, no. 3: 33.
Abstract: A new network of over 72 organizations from 12 countries was activated during a convening at ARTIS in Amsterdam on 26–27 September 2022. Representatives are aligned with the transdisciplinary field and social movement of Planetary Health, which analyzes and addresses the impacts of human disruptions to natural systems on human health and all life on Earth. The new European Planetary Health Hub consists of organizations from various sectors, including universities, healthcare, youth, business, and civil society. The Convening, co-organized by the Planetary Health Alliance (PHA), the European Environment and Sustainable Development Advisory Councils Network (EEAC), and Natura Artis Magistra (ARTIS), aimed to develop Planetary Health Working Groups for Education, Policy Engagement, Research, and Movement Building. The Convening resulted in an outline for each of the Working Group’s aims, visions, missions, priorities, and activities, and set the framework for sustaining their activities in the future through the establishment of the European Planetary Health Hub Secretariat in the Netherlands. The Hub members shared lessons learned, built relationships, and developed artwork-inspired perspectives on Planetary Health. In conclusion, the Convening led to the establishment of a strong European foundation to contribute to the transformations needed for sustainable, just, and equitable societies that flourish within the limits of our ecosystems.
Linda Bos, Jana Laura Egelhofer, and Sophie Lecheler Communication Research 2023 50:6, 695-719
Abstract: Citizens increasingly turn to social media for information, where they often rely on cues to judge the credibility of news messages. In these environments, populist politicians use “fake news” and “anti-elitist” attacks to undermine the credibility of news messages. This article argues that to truly understand the impact of these criticism cues, one must simultaneously consider additional contextual cues as well as individual-level moderators. In a factorial survey, we exposed 715 respondents to tweets by a politician retweeting and discrediting a news message of which topic and source varied. We find that both the fake news cue and the anti-elitist cue have limited across-the-board effects but decrease credibility if the message is incongruent with voters’ issue positions. Our results thus offer a more optimistic view on the power of populist media criticism cues and suggest that source and confirmation heuristics are (still) stronger influences on citizens’ credibility evaluations.
Helmuth Trischler, 2022. In: Farrenkopf, M. and Göschl, R. ed. Gras drüber … Bergbau und Umwelt im deutsch-deutschen Vergleich: Begleitband zur Sonderausstellung des Deutschen Bergbau-Museums Bochum im Jahr 2022. Berlin, Boston: De Gruyter Oldenbourg, pp. 35-42.
Julia Serong, 2022 In C. Paganini, M. Prinzing & J. Serong (Hrsg.), Wissen kommunizieren. Ethische Anforderungen an die Kommunikation zwischen Wissenschaft und Gesellschaft. Reihe Kommunikations- und Medienethik (Band 20) (S. 143-156). Nomos.
Abstract: Dass das öffentliche Engagement von Forscher:innen einen wichtigen Beitrag zur Qualität in der Wissenschaftskommunikation leisten kann, dürfte unbestritten sein. Problematisch wird es jedoch, wenn dieses freiwillige Engagement als Verpflichtung angesehen wird. Auch wenn gute Gründe dafür zu sprechen scheinen, sollte die Forderung nach einer individuellen Pflicht zur Wissenschaftskommunikation kritisch reflektiert werden. Aus einer systemtheoretischen Perspektive wird ersichtlich, dass eine solche Verpflichtung die Beziehungen zwischen Wissenschaft und Öffentlichkeit von einer Beobachtungs- in eine Leistungsrelation transformiert. Unter den Bedingungen einer polykontexturalen, dezentralen Öffentlichkeit kann dies eine dysfunktionale Entdifferenzierung von Wissenschaftskommunikation begünstigen. Stattdessen braucht es eine Anpassung der funktionalen Vermittlungsstrukturen, vor allem in der Öffentlichkeitsarbeit sowie im Journalismus. Der Beitrag plädiert daher für eine „Professionalisierung 2.0“ in der Wissenschaftskommunikation, die insbesondere die ethische Reflexion fördert und stärkt. Hierzu wird ein ethischer Orientierungsrahmen skizziert, der sich auf Nützlichkeit bzw. Verständlichkeit, Richtigkeit bzw. Wahrhaftigkeit, „Timing“, Gemeinsinn und Unabhängigkeit als Prinzipien für gute Wissenschaftskommunikation stützt.
Julia Serong, 2021. In: Klapper, Bernadette and Cichon, Irina (eds.) : Neustart! Für die Zukunft unseres Gesundheitswesens. Berlin: MWV Medizinisch Wissenschaftliche Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG. pp. 575-580
We would like to invite you to our colloquium, “Fostering Synergy: Combining Science and Art to Communicate with the Public – Lessons from the Project ¡vamos, simbiosis!” on November 21stat 13:00 (CET).
The interdisciplinary project ¡vamos, simbiosis! uses science-inspired artworks to emotionally connect with people and encourage action in preserving the Mediterranean Sea, which is used as an example to communicate the importance of healthy ecosystems for combating climate change and maintaining well-being and economic stability. This project emerged from a partnership between molecular biology and arts and aims to bridge the gap between science and society. Recognizing the severe threats to the environment, particularly the oceans, caused by human impact, the project seeks to understand the symbiotic connection between humans and the sea in the past and present. Prof. Dr. Annika Guse and Dr. Stephanie Guse will speak about the project itself, its outcomes, and innovative approaches to communicating with the public.
Prof. Dr. Annika Guse is a Professor at the Biology Department at Ludwigs-Maximilans-Universität München. She has a PhD in Molecular Biology from the University of Vienna, and in her research she aims to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying coral symbiosis as the basis for adaptation to environmental in the past, present and future.
Dr. Stephanie Guse is an interdisciplinary artist addressing societal issues. She studied fine art and communication design at the Braunschweig University of Fine Arts and at the Städelschule Frankfurt am Main. In 2015 she completed a Ph.D. in Philosophy of Art on Thinking Hands, a collaborative drawing method she designed, at the University of Applied Arts in Vienna.
More information on each colloquium will be sent to our mailing list as the dates approach. Here you can subscribe to our email list: https://www.mscl.de/mailing-list/ .
Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or ideas about possible topics and speakers.
If you missed the event, you can still watch the presentation here:
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We would like to invite you to our colloquium, “Practicing Transatlantic Science and Knowledge Diplomacy: The German Center for Research and Innovation New York” on October 10that 13:00 (CET).
The German Center for Research and Innovation (DWIH) New York, as part of a global network of research and innovation centers, was established with the goal of strengthening Germany’s reputation as a land of research, science, and innovation and by providing a platform for leaders in science, technology, and the humanities to deepen transatlantic exchange and collaboration. The DWIH New York thereby offers a unique opportunity to assess practices of science and knowledge diplomacy generally and those that have been established in a transatlantic context more specifically.
Dr. Lüdert will give us a practitioner´s perspective on the evolving field of science and knowledge diplomacy. The talk will a) offer a brief outline of the historical and political context of establishing a global network of German Centers for Research and Innovation (DWIH); b) discuss normative and practical importance as instances of both science and knowledge diplomacy for establishing academic freedom and exchange between researchers, policymakers, and industry; c) illustrate the day-to-day praxis of the DWIH New York through highlighting the work of the center.
Finally, he will invite a discussion on the importance of fostering science and knowledge diplomacy, considering contestations to the liberal order, academic freedom, and science skepticism, amongst others.
Dr. Jan Lüdert is Head of Programs at the German Center for Research and Innovation in New York City. He earned a Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of British Columbia (UBC), holds a Harvard Kennedy School Public Leadership Credential, a First-Class Honors MA in International Relations from the Australian National University, and a BA in Public Policy from Hamburg University for Economics and Politics.
He previously served as an Associate Professor at the City University of Seattle, where he was the inaugural Director of Curriculum and Instruction. Dr. Lüdert held positions as Visiting Research Scholar at the Ralph Bunche Institute for International Studies at City University of New York’s Graduate Center as well as a Research Associate with the DFG ‘Dynamics of Security’ project at Philipps Marburg University. He is an alumnus of Seattle’s World Affairs Council Fellows and UBC Liu Institute for Global Issues Scholar programs.
More information on each colloquium will be sent to our mailing list as the dates approach. Here you can subscribe to our email list: https://www.mscl.de/mailing-list/ .
Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or ideas about possible topics and speakers.
If you missed the event, you can still watch the presentation here:
Hier klicken, um den Inhalt von YouTube anzuzeigen. Learn more in YouTube’s privacy policy.
